| Goof Bowyer | |
| Birth Date: | 2 October 1903 |
| Birth Place: | Tampa, Florida |
| Death Place: | Gainesville, Florida |
| Player Years1: | 1926–1928 |
| Player Team1: | Florida |
| Player Positions: | Quarterback |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1929–1930 |
| Coach Team2: | Lakeland HS (FL) (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1931–1932 |
| Coach Team3: | Florida Southern |
| Coach Years4: | 1933–1935 |
| Coach Team4: | Florida (backfield) |
| Coach Sport5: | Basketball |
| Coach Years6: | 1932 |
| Coach Team6: | Florida Southern |
| Admin Years1: | 1931–1932 |
| Admin Team1: | Florida Southern |
| Overall Record: | 8–9–1 (college football) |
| Awards: | University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame |
Ernest J. "Goof" Bowyer (October 2, 1903 – May 19, 1988) was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Florida Southern College from 1931 to 1932.
Bowyer attended Gainesville High, playing football for J. Rex Farrior and winning a state title. He then attended Lakeland High School in 1923, where he was again quarterback of the Florida state champion team.[1] [2]
Bowyer attended the University of Florida. He played for coach Tom Sebring and Charlie Bachman's Florida Gators football teams from 1925 to 1928. He was captain of the freshman team in his first year, and captain of the varsity in his senior season. In 1927, he broke his leg against Georgia, and was elected captain one month later.[3] Bowyer was one of the school's greatest ever senior captains, leading what was remembered by many sports commentators as the best Florida football team until at least the 1960s.
After serving as an assistant for his former high school, Bowyer was hired as head football coach and athletic director for the Florida Southern Moccasins.[4] His 1932 basketball team posted a 10–3 record.[5] In 1933 Bowyer took over as the Florida Gators backfield coach after the departure of Joe Holsinger, his former backfield coach.
Bowyer died on May 19, 1988.[6]